The Lord's Work

We've all heard it. Someone, somewhere, has proclaimed ever so casually, to your disbelief, "you're doing the Lord's Work."

Really?! And, how would they know, exactly? It's quite puzzling, actually, if you care to think about it. Do people say that simply to commend someone for doing a task they, themselves, would never do? Do they actually find divine inspiration in arduous labor? Are they merely giving you a verbal high-five for a good deed? Or, is it something else?

Literally, if we're talking about Jesus, "the Lord's Work" could be broken down into several categories, including teaching, preaching, and healing. Carpentry seems a little too obvious. There could be a case made for feeding, though; we do have Him on record as assisting the catering of a wedding. Therefore, teachers, priests, doctors... and restaurant professionals are all doing the Lord's Work. If you work for the IRS, you are automatically disqualified. I'm not sure where that leaves Judas Priest.

Now, if we're talking about God's Work... well, that's a bit broader. Just to brainstorm a bit, that was creating the earth and all life on it, the oceans, the mountains, the sun, the moon, night and day, and man... and woman. He is essentially the CEO of all of that. So, where on God's green earth (ha-ha) would you find someone actually doing His job?

Hmmm...

To quote a famous line, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." That must be it - the Lord's will is the Lord's Work! Why isn't this any clearer?

I heard the following the other day - "You already know what God wants you to do." We already know; that's something to think about. If we work from that assumption, perhaps the whole "Lord's Work" idea will present itself. It gives everyone a shot, anyway; even the tax collector.